The m6A Consensus Motif Provides a Paradigm of Epitranscriptomic Studies

Abstract

To date more than 150 kinds of RNA chemical modifications have been identified in cellular RNAs, among which N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent mRNA modification in higher eukaryotes. m6A is widely conserved among eukaryotes and tends to occur in a RRACH consensus motif. This consensus motif is identified as early as the 1970s and positively influences the subsequent epigenetic studies. This viewpoint discusses the discovery of this m6A consensus motif and the latest studies around it.